Change in shape sparks change in fortunes for City

But he must have felt like strangling him.

The Frenchman twice denied Claridge a

dramatic stoppage-time winner as the game ended in explosive fashion.

It was an edge-of-the-seat finale that nobody would have forecast. But it was an afternoon of surprises all round.

Dean Windass returned to his midfield origins - and then came up with the bravest of headers to end his four-month wait for a goal that didn't come from the penalty spot.

And Colin Todd transformed the pattern of a game that Swansea looked to be strolling by totally rehashing the formation.

Gone was the 4-4-2 mantra that the City chief has stuck with through thick and thin. For the last 20 minutes, he switched to three defenders at the back, two wing-backs and Windass playing "in the hole" behind Claridge and Joe Brown.

Maybe it was forced on Todd to an extent. With no Danny Cadamarteri, Steve Schumacher or Andy Cooke to call on, his alternative options were limited.

But with the wingers misfiring again, he decided the time was right to gamble. And he hit the jackpot handsomely.

The "experts" in the Carlsberg Stand taunted Todd with a chorus of "You don't know what you're doing" when Ben Muirhead was hauled off after another ineffective display and replaced by defender Damion Stewart. No doubt those same critics were just as quickly off their feet to cheer City's rip-roaring revival.

The biggest shock of the lot, though, had to be the architect of the equaliser.

The Valley Parade faithful had been urged to get behind Joe Brown on his first senior start. But it was another rookie's name who was on everybody's lips afterwards.

Tom Penford is no novice - he made his debut under Nicky Law at Preston nearly three years ago.

At that time, he looked a skinny lad with a superb touch and real swagger about his play.

On Saturday he looked like a skinny lad with... You know the rest. It was almost as if time had stood still from 2003.

For the final 20 minutes, it could have been a repeat of that afternoon at Deepdale. Penford was full of tricks and touches, always trying to make things happen.

One glorious backheel to Claridge illustrated that talent to unlock a defence with a single piece of quick-thinking.

Penford's City career has stood still since the early promise. When this season kicked off, he did not even have a squad number after being told to look for pastures new.

But with numbers down in the squad, and Julian Rhodes seemingly reluctant to add to the wage bill given the club's mid-table standing, opportunities will arise.

Fingers crossed that this will mark the second coming of a player who certainly possesses the ability to make an impact.

Penford made his impact with the cross for Dean Windass to head the home side level with 11 minutes to go.

The centre was a teasing one designed to lure Gueret from his goal. It then became a bravery test for Windass, who had to stick his head in where it hurts as the keeper came hurtling.

City's leading scorer never flinched and took a thump on his left ear for his troubles. But it was worth it as the ball flew home to make it a lucky 13th goal of the season for Windass - and his first from open play since September.

"Maybe it's because I'm daft but I just had eyes for the ball," smiled Windass. "I saw the keeper coming and knew he was probably going to punch me but so be it.

"John Hendrie said he would have ducked but I'm happy to take the whack as it gets us a point."

By that stage, Windass was at the front of a midfield triangle with Penford and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. It was the most creative the Bantams have looked all campaign.

Darren Holloway and Lewis Emanuel were given wing-back responsibilities - and arguably produced more crosses than the two recognised widemen had managed in the

previous hour or so.

Muirhead had huffed and puffed on his recall. His commitment never waned, and was illustrated by a 50-yard sprint to track back and cut off a dangerous counter-attack, but the quality centres never came in.

On the left flank, Petta was anonymous. His most notable action was a wild free-kick at the end of the first half which flew high into the Kop - and led to the first boos of the day.

Unfortunately it was another day of frustrating under-achievement from a player who is capable of doing much, much better. Todd must be pulling his hair out.

Petta's number was up by the hour point - at which stage there only seemed one winner.

Swansea had arrived in West Yorkshire in top spot and were serenely heading towards the away victory that would keep them there.

The little and large strike pairing of Leon Knight and Adebayo Akinfenwa were giving the City back four plenty to chew over as wingers Tom Williams and Leon Britton bombed forward to put the home version to shame.

Akinfenwa may need the same tailor as Darren Moore when it comes to his generous-sized shorts but he is surprisingly nimble. Most League One sides, City included, would love a targetman of that ilk - providing he gets the proper service of course.

Donovan Ricketts had to be on his toes to deny the big fella's close-range jab after David Wetherall had been out-muscled. And the Bantams stopper also earned his corn by turning away a swerving effort from Knight on the edge of the penalty area.

But Ricketts was helpless as Swansea cashed in on their seventh corner a minute before the break. Knight picked up the loose ball as City failed to clear the danger, found the unmarked Williams and his low centre was rammed into the roof of the net by centre half Garry Monk.

City had created little in response with Brown, for all his considerable effort, finding it hard to get into the game.

Claridge was buzzing around next to him,

taking plenty of kicks for his trouble, but almost gained a reward five minutes into the second half from a chance fashioned by the persistence of Holloway.

Muirhead wasted a promising opening with a poor cross behind Claridge and Todd had seen enough. Everything changed - including the whole pattern of the game.

The momentum had shifted completely and twice Claridge nearly crowned the comeback with a winner.

He stooped to flick on Bridge-Wilkinson's free-kick and couldn't believe his luck as Gueret somehow managed to dive full length and finger the ball away.

And then Claridge threatened to imitate Gazza's wonder goal against Scotland in Euro '96 with a flick over the defender's head and thumping volley. But again Gueret was in the way and managed to shove it over the bar.